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s Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.) W. E.'WHITE. GAS ENGINE N0. 599,875. Patented Feb. 22,1898.

(No Model.) y 3 Sheets-Sheet 2. W. E. WHITE. GAS ENGINE N0. 599,375, Patented Feb. 22, 1898.

War-ran Inventor:

(No Model.) 3 Sl1eets-Sheet 3. W. E. WHITE. GAS ENGINE.

No; 599,375. Patented Feb. 22, 1898.

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WARREN E. -WHITE, OF GARRETT, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO EDWVARD P. FITZGERALD, JOHN B. MAGER, AND EMANUEL l3. THUMMA,

OF SAME PLACE.

GAS-ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 599,375, dated February 22, 1898.

Application filed September 16, 1895. Serial No. 562,712. (No model.)

To aZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, WARREN E. WHITE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Garrett, in the county of De Kalb, State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gas-Engines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention has relation to an engine to be operated either by gasolene or gas; and among the principal objects in view is the production of an engine of the class mentioned which shall be operated by an explosion at each revolution of the crank-shaft thereof and at each reciprocation of the piston of the engine; and another object is to utilize the framework of the engine as a part of an apparatus for forcing the products of combustion from the combustionchamber after each explosion.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the following description, and the novel features thereof will be particularly pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of a gas or gasolenc engine constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 1 is a detail in section of an upper valve in the generator. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section midway of the piston. Fig. 3 is an end elevation. Fig. lis a central vertical section, with parts in elevation, of the governor. Fig. 5 is a central horizontal section, with parts in elevation, of the igniting apparatus. Fig. (l is an end elevation of the igniting mechanism. Fig. 7is a side and end elevation of the igniter-trip. Fig. 8 is a detail of insulated binding-post for the electrical conductor employed as part of the igniting apparatus. Fig. 9 is an enlarged crosssection through the mixer.

Like letters refer to like parts in all of the figures of the drawings.

A is a base or framework, which has cast integrally therewith in this instance the cylinder B, which, however, may be mounted separately without involving a departure from my invention, and an air-tight casing 13,

which incloses the crank portion of the main shaft of the engine and communicates di* rectly and in an air and gas tight condition with the cylinder of the engine. In this instance a large portion of the air-tight casing B is cast integrally with the frame and cylinder, a portion thereof being removable for the insertion of an axis and the parts located therein, as clearly shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

Any suitable well-known joint between the removable portion and the other part of the casin g or chamber may be employed, and any suitable devices may also be used for removably connecting the same. In some sizes of engines it may not be absolutely essential to have a portion of the air-tight chamber removable.

The piston employed in this engine is differential in character, comprising a portion of less diameter than the remainder. The piston O is hollow and provided with a cross head or rod 0, to which the connecting-rod D of the engine is directly attached, and therefore passes through the larger portion C of the piston, which rides in the larger portion of the cylinder. The other end of the connecting-rod is suitably connected with the crank E of the main shaft of the engine, which crank revolves within the air-chamber B.

The cylinder B is provided with a supplyport B and with an exhaust-port B As usual, a water-jacket B with a supply-port B and a discharge-port B is formed as a part of the cylinder.

B is the explosion portion or chamber of the cylinder. Aport F is formed leading from the interior of the cylinder to and through a check-valve G, communicating with a port H, which terminates at the explosion-chamber. A similar valve I and port I are arranged opposite the valve G and port H and also communicating with the combustion-chamber, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. The ports H and 1 communicate by the transverse port II,as indicated best in Fig. 2. A similar ICO rock-shaft M, which forms a portion of the igniting apparatus N, which is mounted in an opening formed in the end of the cylinder. The details of this apparatus are more clearly shown in Figs. 5 to 8 and will be described hereinafter.

0, Fig. 1, is a vertical sectional View of a generator or air and gas mixer which maybe employed in connection with the engine, or, if desired, the motive or explosive agent may be directly applied to the engine through the receiving-port B In this instance the generator consists of chamber of a form adapted to be mounted upon the cylinder B and having a transverse platform 0, from which projects a hollow standard 0 in which is arranged a valve-stem P.

The platform of the casing is provided with apertures, as shown, for the passage of mixed air and gas into the engine. The valve-stem P carries at its lower end a valve P, which is normally held upwardly against its seat by acoil-spring P arranged about the spindle, abutting against a collar above it, also on the spindle. The interior of the chamber above the platform is divided into compartments by means of rings 0 which embrace the stand ard and support space-perforated disks 0 and plain disks 0 of any suitable material.

At the upper end of the chamber 0 is a series of holes 0 for the admission of air, and at the top of the cap or cover 0 of the chamber there is a needle-valve 0 adapted to be connected with a pipe from any suitable sourceof supply of naphthalene or gasolene or other volatile motive agent capable of use in an engine of this class. Near the bottom of the chamber there is a lateral opening or bearing O for a reciprocative dog or latch 0 which, by means of a coil-spring O encircling the shank thereof, is normally maintained in an outward position, while the dog or latch is capable of inward position when the proper force is applied thereto.

Upon the valve-stem there is a step or lug or any other equivalent device 0 for cooperating with the latch or dog to stop the downward movement of the valve-stem and its valve when the dog is caused to move inwardly toward the valve-stem.

Upon the cylinder and in any suitable manner and in juxtaposition to the generatingchamber or mixer there is mounted abracket Q, (see Fig. 1,) in which is carried and operated the governor. In this instance the bracket Q has at its attaching portion an opening Q, into which the base or lower end of the generative chamber is fitted, as clearly shown in Fig. 1. Bolts or any other suitable devices may be employed to secure these parts operatively to the cylinder. The outer end of the bracket is bored at Q for the reception of a tubular spindle Q having ahead or flange at one end which abuts against the bracket, and having at the other end an interior screw thread into which a hollow screw Q fits. A j am-nut Q completes the device for firmly securing the spindle within the bracket. The spindle is provided at its flanged end with a belt-pulley Q, secured by means of the nut Q From this pulley a belt is extended to the crank-shaft of the engine,-

as is usual, to give rotation to the pulley and its spindle. The spindle is diametrically slotted for the reception of arms R, projecting from the pivot-heads of the swinging balls of the governor. \Vithin the tubular spindle and the tubular screw fitted in the end thereof there is a rod S, having a shoulder and head S, the former to take hearing within the spindle and receive the thrust of a coil-spring S therein, and the latter to he acted upon by the arms R. The free end of the rod S abuts against the dog 0 in the generative chamber when the governor is mounted in operative position.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 5 to 8, inclusive, T is a trip which is secured to the end of the piston-head and travels back and forth therewith in its reciprocative movements. The trip is in bracket form and has an inclined or wedge-shaped projection or nose T, the object of which is that as it upon a backward stroke of the piston contacts with the arm L of the rock-shaft M it will cause the same to oscillate, whereby through devices now to be described an electric spark is produced within the combustion-chamber of the engine. The sparking apparatus is mounted in a plate N, which is secured by any suitable means upon the end of the cylinder B, portions of the apparatus projecting into the cylinder, as clearly shown in Fig. 1. The arm L is inserted in to the rock-shaft M and is held in an adjusted position by means of the setscrew M, and the rock-shaft itself is mounted in an exteriorly-screw-threaded tube M which is seated in a screw-threaded aperture and boss N, formed in the plate N. A jam-nut N serves to secure the parts in operative position. The tube M is provided with a wrenchhold M so that it may be rotated in its screwthreaded aperture and boss of the plate N, and thereby cause the tappet-arm L to occupy a position more or less remote from the plate N, so as to produce an electric spark sooner or later with regard to the approach of the I piston to the explosion end of the cylinder. By this means the amount of compression of the explosive charge may be regulated.

In proceeding with the description of the igniting devices, upon the exterior end of the rock-shaft M there is mounted a rock-armM one end of which is connected with a coilspring U, which normally retains the arm in a horizontal position, the spring being tensile rather than a compression-spring and being secured in any suitable manner to a stud or pin U, seated in the base of the plate N. The rock-arm carries or is provided with a projection M and with a spring M, arranged opposite the projection and secured to the rock-arm by a screw M Between the projection and spring there rides another r0ckarm V, mounted upon a shaft V, which passes through the head N, as clearly shown in Fig.

5, and carries a contact-bar V secured in the shaft by the set-screw V This contact-arm is extended so as to have a bearing upon a binding-post V, which is seated in the plate N just beneath the spring U of Figs. 3 and 6 and projected into the cylinder sufficiently to cross the path of the said contact-arm V At this point the binding-post may be provided with a platinum or other non-corrosive conductive point or blade W, (see Fig. 8,) while the post itself is bound by a nut V firmly in an aperture in the plate N, which is packed with asbestos or other non-conductive material. It is understood that the current is conducted to the ground through the frame of the machine and that the separation of the contact-arm V from the post XV causes a spark.

From the above construction it will be seen that when upon a backward reciprocation of the piston the trip T comes into contact with the rock-arm L the contact-arm V is raised into engagement with the binding-post W and that upon a return movement of the pis ton and trip the spring U will return the rockarm M, while the spring V will return the arm V and contact-arm V to their normal position.

Having described the construction of the various parts of an engine embodying my invention, I desire it to be understood that said invention is not limited to the exact details herein shown and described, but that it may be embodied in engines and appurtenances thereof vastly different in appearance, proportion, and form from those illustrated and described.

The operation of the invention is as follows: Naphthalene or gasolene or other volatile motive agent is admitted into the generator-chamber by means of the needle-valve O and meets the incoming atmospheric air at the apertures O thereof,and on the forward or power stroke of the piston-that is, toward the crank-shaft--the portion 0 of the piston produces a suction, thereby drawing a fresh charge of explosive mixture from the mixer through valve B into the cylinder B. The same stroke of the portion 0 of the piston acts to force a current of air from the chamber 13 through the passage H, the valve 1, and passage-ways I and H into the combustionchamber B to assist in expelling the exhaust and to scavenge the cylinder. The return or compressing stroke of the piston-that is, away from the crank-shaft-compresses the new charge in the cylinder B and forces it through the passage F, valve G, and passageways H and H into the combustion-chamber B", where it is ignited at the completion of the stroke of the piston and the automatic action of the igniter mechanism. The same stroke of the piston produces a suction in chamber B, and fresh air is drawn into said chamber through the check-valve J and the passage H.

It will thus be seen that at each and every revolution of the crank-shaft an explosion is produced within the cylinder, thus adding to the effectiveness of this class of engine. It will also be observed that at each stroke of the piston the cylinder B is automatically scavenged. In case the load is suddenly taken off from the engine and it attempts to run away the outward movement of the governorballs forces the rod S against the dog 0 and forces it inwardly under the lug O on the spindle of the valve P, and thus prevents the entrance of a fresh charge of mixed air and gas. It is evident that suitable and well-known devices may be provided at this point for determining the quantity of mixed air and gas which shall enter the engine in accordance with the load upon it; but these devices I may employ or not, as I have shown one form of governing device as illustrative of one application among many of the same that may be chosen. To the upper end of the spindle P is secured a collar P against which the spring P bears to lift the valve P against its seat. The spindle P is extended above the collarand slotted for the reception and movement of a pin P in the stem P of a valve P which by a spring P is yieldingly held or carried to its seat formed in the tube P, which is seated in the cover of the generator. The object of this construction is to insure the seating of the valve P and P regardless of the natural wear occurring by use. When the valve P is lowered, it moves independently of the valve P until the pin P contacts with the end of the slot in the stem P, when the valve P is drawn down from its seat. When the valve P reaches its seat, the stem P rises and permits a slight independent movement of the valve P and its stem, limited by the length of the slot in the main valve-stem P. The opening shown in the airtight cylinder at the right in Fig. 1 can be closed by a plug or any suitable means.

What I claim is 1. In a gas-engine, a cylinder and piston, and a fuel-supply port communicating with a portion of the cylinder, and a valve controlling said port, a governor, and connections between the same and the valve-stem for automatically locking said valve closed under abnormal conditions, and a mixingchamber with disks and rings within the same through the center of which the valvestem passes, substantially as specified.

2. In a gas-engine, the combination with the framework and the cylinder and a mixing-chamber mounted on said cylinder and having a series of disks and rings, of a valve working in the passage from said cylinder and its stem extended vertically through said chamber, and passed through said disks and rings, and an automatic locking means for said valve, all substantially as described.

3. 111 a gasengine, the combination with the framework, and the cylinder, of a mixing-chamber mounted on the cylinder, a pis- IIO ton and suitable operative connections, a valve controlling the port from the chamber to the cylinder, and having its stem Working in the chamber, a governor, and operative connections between the same and said stem whereby the valve is automatically locked in its closed position under abnormal conditions, substantially as specified.

4. In a gas-engine, a cylinder having differential bores,and an integral air-tight chamber communicating with one of the bores, means provided for the passage of air between the larger and smaller bores of the cylinder, a piston with means for reciprocating the same within the bores, means whereby external atmosphere is taken into one of the bores at one movement of the engine, a mixingchamber, and a valve controlling the supplyport therefrom to the cylinder, and a crankshaft connected with the piston and having its crank arranged within the air-tight chamber formed integral with the cylinder and frame, substantially as specified.

5. In a gas-engine, the combination of a cylinder having differential bores and an airtight chamber communicating with one of the bores, means for permitting the passage of air between the larger and smaller bores of the cylinder, a piston with means for reciprocating the same within the bores, means whereby external atmosphere is taken into one of the said bores at one movement of the engine, a mixing-chamber a valve controlling the supply-port therefrom to the cylinder, and a crank-shaft connected with the piston with its crank within said air-tight chamber, substantially as shown and described.

6. The combination with the cylinder and piston, of the mixing-chamber mounted upon the cylinder and communicating with the bore thereof, having a series of alternately-arranged perforate and imperforate disks, and a valve having its stem working through the center of the disks and constructed to be opened by the suction produced by the piston, substantially as specified.

7. A mixing-chamber provided with a port for direct connection with the cylinder, a series of internally-arranged disks, and the valve opening outwardly having its stem passed through the centers of the disks and provided with means for yieldingly retaining the valve in a closed position, a governor, and means for engaging said stem for automatically holding the valve in its closed position, substantially as specified.

8. In a mixer for gas-engines, a casing terminating at one end with a discharge-valve, a spring for yieldingly holding the valve in its closed position, a series of disks perforate and imperforate, and a series of rings for spacing said disks, substantially as described.

9. A mixer for gas-engines, comprising a casing, having a cap or cover covering a needle-valve, and a central hollow standard and spindle mounted within the standard, a perforated platform, a coil spring about the spindle, a lug upon the spindle, and a valve at the lower end of the spindle and fitting the discharge-opening of the chamber, and a lateral passage containing a reciprocative dog; substantially as described.

10. In a gas-engine, the combination with its piston, of a trip on the piston, a rock-shaft having an arm adapted to cooperate with the trip to rock the shaft, igniting devices operatively connected with the shaft, and means for adjusting the arm carrying the projection of the rock-shaft toward the piston; substantially as described.

11. The combination with the cylinder and piston, of a rocking shaft mounted at the end of the cylinder and having an arm, a fixed electrode, a movable electrode supported by said rocking shaft, a trip adapted to cooperate with said arm to rock the shaft, and a wedge-shaped trip-operating device carried by the end of the piston to actuate said arm, substantially as described.

12. The combination with the cylinder and piston, of an electrode-shaft mounted at the end of the cylinder, an arm carried thereby within the cylinder and a trip device carried by the end of the piston to actuate said arm, said trip device being wedge-shaped, and means for adjusting the electrode-shaft and for adjusting said arm on said shaft; substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WARREN E. WHITE.

WVitnesses:

EDWARD P. FITZGERALD, J NO. B. MAGER. 

